The Issue: Mariano Rivera’s announcement that he will retire as reliever for the Yankees after this season.

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My favorite part of being at a Yankee game was when the outfield doors opened up, “Enter Sand Man” by Metallica blasted on the speakers and Mariano Rivera jogged to the mound (“Mo No Mo,” Editorial, March 9).

I greatly enjoyed watching the greatest closer in baseball history secure another Yankee victory.

During close games, my friend, who sat next to me, would say, “We get the lead, Mo comes in. Then, 1, 2, 3, we go home happy.” And most days it happened just that way.

Rivera has 608 saves. Not bad for a kid who learned the game using a glove made out of cardboard. Yankee fans and baseball will miss you, Mo! Matthew Viola

River Vale, NJ

I was very fortunate to have felt firsthand Rivera’s grace and dignity.

I had the honor of meeting him at a resort where we were both vacationing with our families. I approached him cautiously, asking if he would shake the hand of my son, who was eight years old at the time and idolized Rivera. Not only did he gladly accept our greeting, but he insisted I take a picture of him with my son. It is a moment our family will never forget.

Thank you again, Mr. Rivera, for being such a class act and great role model both on and off the field.

Mark Friedmann

Manhattan

There is a gloom in Gotham because the great Rivera has declared that this will be his last season in the sun.

The ray of sunshine he brought into our humdrum lives will be gone forevermore.

He will surpass such great Yankee relievers as Sparky Lyle, Luis Arroyo, Joe Page and the unforgettable Wilcy Moore.